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. J. W. RBINHART.

Switch-Look.

No 227,301. Patented May 4,1880.

NITE STATES ATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH REINHART, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO JAMES MOHENRY REINHART, OF SAME PLACE.

SWITCH-LOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N6. 227,301, dated May 4, 1880.

Application filed July 31, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OSEPH W. REINHART, of Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in SwitchLocks; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification, in which Figure 1 represents a plan of my improved lock with the top plate removed to show its internal construction and arrangement of parts. Fig. 2 represents a side elevation of the same; and Fig. 3, a plan of the inside of the coverplate. Fig. 4 represents a cross section of lock-bolt. Fig. 5 represents a detached view of one of the doors that covers the keyopenings. Figs. 6 and 7 representaside elevation and edge view of the key.

My invention relates to a switch-lock adapted to be applied to that class of single-throw switchdevers which, in changing the switch from the main track to the siding, or vice versa, is made to turn to an extent equal to an arc of a circle of one hundred and eighty degrees, and hence, where but one look is used to fasten the switch-lever in its two positions, requires a lock of peculiar construction.

The invention,for this purpose, consists, first, in forming the lock with a slot or mortise, which runs through it from one edge to the other, to receive the hook-catches, which, when engaged with the lock-bolt, lock the switchlever to its bed-frame.

It consists, secondly, in providing the lock with two key holes or openings on the opposite edges of the look, but which do not communicate with each other, and yet allow the key to act on the same lock-bolt, but on opposite edges of said bolt.

It consists,thirdly, in constructing the lockbolt with two rack-bars, one on each edge,

and in combining therewith two pinions, whereby, through the instrumentality of a toothed key applied to either of said pinions, the lock- To enable others skilled in the art to make,

construct, and use my invention, I will now proceed to describe its parts in detail.

In the drawings, A represents a stout casting, which forms the inner face and side walls of a lock-casing.

B represents a slot which traverses this casting from edge to edge and forms the receiving-chamber ofthe catch-hooks O, by which the switch-lever, to which the lock is secured, is locked to the bed-frame ot' the switch-lever. This chamber B is open at both ends to give entrance from either side to the catch-hooks 0, according to the side of the lock turned down in changing the switch.

D represents a bridge across the lock, and which serves the threefold purpose of giving great strength to the casing of the lock in the direction of strain, of forming one of the walls of the slotted chamber B, and of lateral guides tor thelock-bolt, for which purpose it is notched out for a width and depth sufficient at its middle portion to receive the end of said lockbolt, as shown in Fig. 1.

E represents a socket for the reception of the end of the spiral spring I, the other end of which embraces a shank, a, formed on the inner end of the lock-bolt F.

Lock-bolt F is provided with two sets of rack-teeth, b and 0,.0ne set on each side.- Into these mesh pinions b and c, b with rack 12 and c with rack 0. These pinions are loosely mounted on stud-pins b and c and are held in place by flanges (7, formed on the upper sides of the lock-bolt, and which project over and cover the teeth of the racks b and c.'

G represents the key, made in the form of a rack-bar, so as to act on either of the pinions b and c, as the case may be, in the manner shown in Fig.- 1.

In Fig. 1 it will be evident thatas the rack bar key is pushed in, its teeth, meshing into the teeth of the pinion b, will cause the latter to turn, and as the teeth of the pinion mesh with rack I), draw the lock-boltF back, thereby disengaging the latter from the hook-catch O of the switch-lever frame, and hence unlocking the lever, so that the latter may be turned to change the switch.

It will be evident that the same key will operate upon either pinion b or c, and thus operate the lock-bolt from either edge of the lock.

e 0 represent guides for the rack-face of the key in inserting it into either opening of the two edges of the lock, and ff a guideway for the back. Corresponding guides ff are also formed on the inside of the cover G, which is also provided with a guideway, g, for the up per side of the lock-bolt.

0n the inside of the casing A which contains the working parts of the look, at each corner adjoining the bridge D, is bored a hole for thereceptiou of the lower or pivotal pin, t, of the spring-doors H, which cover the key-openings h and h, that lead to the pinions b and c. This door H is represented in Fig. 5.

Immediately above studt' is arranged another stud or pivotal pin, t", which takes into a corresponding hole,j, (see Fig. 3,) in the cover-plate. These two studs form the pivots on which each of the doors H turn. These studs are formed on or otherwise secured to an arm, lc, cast on or brazed fast to said doors. On the outer end of said arm are formed or otherwise secured two other pivotal pins, the one, m, above, and the other, a, below. The upper one, m, serves as a bearing for one end of a spiral spring, 0, the other end of which bears against a fiange,p, formed on the side of casin g A, while the spiral part is arranged on stud i. This spring 0 serves to close the door H as soon as the key is withdrawn, it be ing placed under tension by the pushing open of the door by the key.

Stud 02, below arm It, acts as a stop to prevent doors H from being opened too far. For this purpose a depression, q, is formed in casin g A, the side wall of which acts as a stop for Stud 02.

From what has already been said the operation is self-evident, as by taking the key and forcing it into either opening and operating one or other of the pinions b or c, the lockbolt is withdrawn, allowing the lock or lever and look to be withdrawn from the catch-hook G. This done and the key withdrawn, the spring I, which has been compressed by the drawing back of the bolt, reacts and thrusts the bolt out again. In this condition it is ready to automatically lock the switch-lever on the depression of the latter over the catchhook as the switch-lever is depressed to change For this purpose the catch-hooks the switch.

are so arranged with respect to the position of the lock on the lever, the one on the one side and the other on the other side of the pivotal point of the switch-lever, that as the lever descends on either side one of said catch-hooks G will enter the slotted chamber B, and pressing back as it enters the lock-bolt F, will pass beyond its point until the end of the lock-bolt is brought opposite the depression or notch 7' of said hook 0, when spring I will then react and force lock-bolt F into said notch r, and thus lock the lever to its bed-frame. For these purposes the ends of lock-bolt F and catchhooks O are rounded or beveled off to facilitate the operation.

From what has been said with reference to the construction of this look it will be seen that it differs from other locks in that the openings for the locking-hooks and the key-openings and coverings for the same are arranged in the opposite edges of the lock, instead of the sides or faces of the look, as is usual; and in that the key operates upon both edges of the lock-bolt according to the edge of the lock and key-hole into which it is inserted. This peculiar construction of the lock specially adapts it to single-throw switches, as it gives it great strength in the line of strain-that is to say, edgewise of the lock, and power to resist injury and violent shocks to which it is subjected, and which it could not resist were it applied flat or side wise.

Having described m yinvention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

1. A switch-lock having a slot, 13, running from edge to edge of its case, and a spring lock-bolt, F, in combination with the catchhooks O, entering the slot from either end alternately, according to the position of the lock, substantially as set forth.

2. A switch-lock having two key-holes arranged on the opposite edges of the lock, but which do not communicate with each other, and yet allow the key to act on the same lookbolt, but on the opposite edges of said bolt, substantially as set forth.

3. A switch -lock provided with a spring lock-bolt having two racks, one at each edge, and with two pinions, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

4. A switch-lock having two key-holes on opposite edges of thelock, and each provided with a door, H, having a spiral spring, 0, and pivotal pins 43 "5, formed on the arm k, carrying two other studs, m and a, as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony that 1 claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 3d day of July, 1879.

JOSEPH WV. REINHART.

Witnesses;

F. B. BROOK, H. A. HALL. 

